Rope-clamp.



C. L. MATTHEWS.

ROPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1911.

llllllllll/l/ Patented May 22,1917.

' guy anchor.

UNITED PATENT OFFIQE.

-CLAUDE L. MATTHEWS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO W. N. MATTHEWS AND BROTHER, INCORPORATED, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF NEW MEXICO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ROPE-CLAMP.

Patented May 22, 1917.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAUDE L.v MAT- THEWS, a. citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Rope-Clamps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. I

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in rope clamps designed particularly for use in connection with guy ropes commonly employed with telegraph and telephone poles. In practice where a pole is to be braced a guy anchor or dead man (a timber about 4 feet long) is buried in the ground at the desired point and the guy rope run therefrom to the upper part of the pole to be guyed or braced. The guy rope is usually a cable composed of twisted strands, whose upper end is formed in a loop around the pole and whose lower end is also formed with a looparound the eye of the Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved rope clamp;

Fig. 2 is a view of the wedge clamping member;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of a modified form;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the modified form shown in Fig. 3.

The object of my invention is to. provide an improved form of clamp for securing flexible strands together, which afi'ords an exceptionally strong fastening by virtue of its construction which adapts it particularly for coiiperation with strands of diiferent sizes, and which permits an equalization of the pressure between the two strands which are connected.

In the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the casing member of the clamp, which member is preferably provided with a longitudinally extending channel-way open at its ends, and into which from one side of the casing member projects a longitudinally extending rib or parting tongue 2. This rib preferably extends the entire length ofthe casing member, although it is obvious that it may be interrupted if desired. The opposite sides of rib 2 form with the adjacent walls of the casing member a pair of parallel longitudinally extending strand seats 2 which are V- shaped. A wedge member 3 is provided, which member is adapted for insertion longitudinally within the channel of the casing member. This wedge member has an engaging'surface l, which may be roughened as shown, or smooth if desired, and on the side opposite said engaging surface is provided with a longitudinally extending medially disposed rounded rib or projection 5 which is adapted to engage the lower wall of the easing member 1 when the wedge is positioned therein. The thickness of the wedge member between its engaging face and the crown of the rib 5 increases from one end of the wedge to the other with a gradual taper.

In the use of the device, the strands to be connected are threaded through the casing member, one on each side of the tongue 2 and within one of the seats 2*. The thinner end of the wedge member is then inserted in the channel of the casing member, and the wedge is driven longitudinally through said member, its engaging face in contact with the strands, and the rib 5 in engagement with the opposite wall of the casing, until the compression between the wedge and the strands within the casing member is suflicient to retain both securely in position. In this operation the strands are forced down into the V-shaped seats, whoseconverging walls tend to increase the compression on the strands as they are forced deeper into the seats.

The rib 5 enables the wedge to adjust itself to accommodate any irregularities in the two strands, as where one is smaller than the other, as said rib permits the wedge to rock upon the casing, thereby equalizing the pressure between the two strands. The V cross sectional form of the strand seats in the easing not only increases the compression upon the strands as the wedge is driven home, but also adapts the clamp for use effectively with strandsof different sizes, as the converging walls provide bearing surfaces on both sides of the strand no matter how small it is.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the lower face of the wedge is fiat and the bottom wall or groove is provided with a centrally longitudinally disposed projection 6 which will 'entwo strands of rope in the manner before described.

Fig. 3 also shows the converging relationship of the strand seats relatively to the opposite wall of the casing member, by virtue of which the engaging surface of the wedge remains parallel to the walls of the strand seats throughout the length of both, no matter how far into the casing the wedge is driven. This insures engagement and equal pressure upon the strands throughout the entire length of the casing member. It is obvious that in order to secure this result, the angle between the faces of the strand seats and the opposite wall of the casing should be equal to the angle between the engaging surface and opposite surface of the wedge.

While I have described my clamp as applicableto guy ropes, it is obvious that the same may be readily used as a connector between electrical conductors, the equalizing Wedge adapting itself to electrically connect two conductors of different sizes.

What I claim is:

1. In a rope clamp, the combination of a member provided with longitudinally disposed grooves adapted to receive strands of rope, a frictionally retained clamping member for forcing the strands of said rope into said grooves, and means permitting rockin engagement between said member and sai clamping member to permit automatic adjustment of the latter.

2. In a rope clamp the combination of a 7 member provided with seats for a plurality of strands of rope, a Wedge cooperating with said member to force strands of rope into said seats, and means intermediate said wedge and said' member for permitting rocking adjustment of said wedge to accommodate irregularities in said ropes.

3. In a rope clamp the combination of a member having a plurality of seats for strands of rope, a wedge provided with a roughened face adapted to cooperate with said member for gripping said strands of rope,-and a longitudinal rib arranged upon said wedge opposite to its roughened face for permitting rocking adjustment of said wedge. v

l. A clamp comprising in combination a hollow member having seats for a plurality of strands and a wedge member adapted to be frictionally retained Within said hollow member and having rocking engagement therewith.

5. A clamp comprising in combination, a member provided with seats for a plurality of strands and a wedge engaging wall, and

a wedge insertible within said member and having rocking engagement with said wall and adapted to retain strands in said seats by virtue of frictional engagement with said strands and said wall. l

6. A clamp of the sort described comprising a hollow casing member formed with interior longitudinally extending strand seats, and a wedge member movable longitudinally through said casing member to clamp strands in said strand seats, said wedge member having equalizing movement about its longitudinal axis relative to the strand seats.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses,

this 12th day of June, 1911.

CLAUDE L. MATTHEWS.

Witnesses:

M. P. SMITH, B. L. CROWLEY. 

